Carrier for flanged articles

ABSTRACT

A carrier for flanged articles includes a generally rectangular base panel, a pair of side walls foldably joined respectively to the side edges of the base panel and extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of top wall panels foldably joined respectively to the top edges of the side walls and extending inwardly therefrom, a pair of support panels foldably joined respectively to the inner edges of the top wall panels and extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, a pair of anchoring panels foldably joined respectively to the inner edges of said support panels and disposed in flat face contacting relation with the upper surface of the base panel, at least one flange receiving slit formed at the junction between each of the top wall panels and its associated support panel, at least a pair of stabilizing flaps struck from the base panel in areas thereof adjacent the side walls respectively and each flap being folded upwardly to occupy a position adjacent its associated side wall and defining an article receiving aperture in the base panel, and a flange receiving slit formed in each stabilizing flap and arranged to cooperate with the corresponding flange receiving slit in the associated top wall panel and support panel for engaging diametrically opposite sides of an article underneath the flange thereof.

United States Patent 1 Wood [ Mar. 27, 1973 [54] CARRIER FOR FLANGED ARTICLES [75] Inventor: Prentice J. Wood, Jonesboro, Ga.

[73] Assignee: The Mead Corporation, Dayton,

Ohio

[22] Filed: Nov. 15, 1971 [211 App]. No.: 198,699

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1964 Randrup ..206/65E 10/1966 Spery ..294/87.2

Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant ExaminerJohnny D. Cherry Attorney-Walter N. Rodgers [57] ABSTRACT A carrier for flanged articles includes a generally rectangular base pane i a pair of side walls foldably joined respectively to the side edges of the base panel and extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of top wall panels foldably joined respectively to the top edges of the side walls and extending inwardly therefrom, a pair of support panels foldably joined respectively to the inner edges of the top wall panels and extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, a pair of anchoring panels foldably joined respectively to the inner edges of said support panels and disposed in flat face contacting relation with the upper surface of the base panel, at least one flange receiving slit formed at the junction between each of the top wall panels and its associated support panel, at least a pair of stabilizing flaps struck from the base panel in areas thereof adjacent the side walls respectively and each flap being folded upwardly to occupy a position adjacent its associated side wall and defining an article receiving aperture in the base panel, and a flange receiving slit formed in each stabilizing flap and arranged to cooperate with the corresponding flange receiving slit in the associated top wall panel and support panel for engaging diametrically opposite sides of an article underneath the flange thereof.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHARZ? I975 INVENTOR PRENTICE J. WOOD ATIORNEY CARRIER FOR FLANGEI) ARTICLES One known type of carrier for flanged articles utilizes an aperture about the periphery of which a plurality of sunburst tabs are formedand configured so as to engage underneath the top flange of an article in the aperture thereby to provide support therefor. Such sunburst tabs must be short or else they cannot be made sufficiently sturdy in compression to take the weight of an ordinary bottle or can. Where sunburst tabs are utilized, it is necessary to incorporate a sidewall alongside the sunburst aperture which is very short in height in order to insure that the top wall of the carrier is sufficiently close to the top surface of the packaged articles to provide stabilizing support therefor. When the walls are thus shortened in height, they are rendered virtually useless for advertising purposes.

In top engaging carriers it is sometimes the practice to provide vertical walls alongside the articles and to incorporate flange receiving slots in each wall. Where this practice is followed valuable advertising space is utilized to provide the flange receiving slits.

According to this invention a carrier for flanged articles is provided wherein substantial side wall areas are afforded and comprises a base panel, side walls, and top wall panels arranged to envelop the top portions of the packaged articles with the top wall panels completely covering and protecting the tops of the packaged articles. In addition, apertures are provided in the base panel for receiving the articles and stabilizing flaps struck from and defining the apertures are folded upwardly and are provided with flange receiving slits which cooperate with slits formed diametrically opposite therefrom respectively at the junction between the top wall panel and the downwardly and inwardly folded support panels to provide efficient and secure gripping of the flanges of the articles.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrier formed according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank from which the carrier of FIG. 1 is formed; FIG. 3 is an end view of the carrier shown in FIG. 1 and in which FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view ofa part of the carrier shown in FIG. 1.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates a base panel in which a pair of finger gripping apertures 2 and 3 are formed. A plurality of stabilizing flaps 4-9 inclusive are struck from the base panel 1 and are foldably joined to side walls and 11 along the fold lines 12 and 13 by which the side walls are adjoined to the base panel 1. A pair of top wall panels 14 and 15 are foldably joined to the top edges of side wall panels 10 and 11 respectively along fold lines 16 and 17. A pair of support panels 18 and 19 are foldably joined respectively to the top wall panels 14 and 15 along fold lines 20 and 21 respectively. Foldably joined to the inner edges of support panels 18 and 19 are a pair of anchoring panels 22 and 23 which are foldably joined to support panels 18 and 19 respectively along fold lines 24 and 25.

For accommodating the finger gripping apertures 2 and 3 when the carton blank of FIG. 2 is manipulated into the assembled condition depicted in FIG. 1, a pair of generally semi-circular cutaway areas 26 and 27 are formed in anchoring panel 22 and in support panel 18.

Cutaway area 26 generally coincides with a portion of aperture 2 while cutaway area 27 is associated with aperture 3. In like fashion cutaway areas 28 and 29 are formed in anchoring panel 23 and partially in support panel 19 and cooperate with finger gripping apertures 2 and 3 as is obvious in FIG. 1.

In order to insure that anchoring panels 22 and 23 occupy the same plane when the carton is assembled as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a plurality of serrations 30 are formed along an edge of anchoring panel 22 and similar serrations 31 are formed along an edge of anchoring panel 23. These serrations 30 are interspersed with the serrations 31 when the carton is assembled and serve to afford a measure of stability to the assembled structure.

For receiving the flange portion of packaged articles, a plurality of generally U-shaped flange receiving slits 32, 33 and 34 are formed along the fold line 20 between top wall panel 14 and support panel 18. In like fashion generally U-shaped slits 35, 36 and 37 are formed along the fold line 21.

In order to provide article receiving apertures in the base panel 1 the stabilizing flaps 4-9 are struck from that panel and the openings defined by these flaps receive the necks of the bottles B.

According to one facet of this invention the stabilizing flaps 4-9 inclusive also serve to grip the flanges of the articles and toward this end are provided with generally U-shaped flange receiving slits 38-43 respectively. Thus the slits such as 38-43 and their associated fold lines such as 44-49 respectively divide each of the stabilizing flaps into a support portion and an anchoring portion. For example and with reference to stabilizing flap 6, the portion thereof which is disposed between the fold line 12 and the fold line 46 and the slit 40 constitutes the support portion 50 of stabilizing flap 6 while that portion of stabilizing flap 6 which is disposed to the right of the fold line 46 and the slit 40 constitutes the anchoring portion 51 of that tab. In like manner the support portion of stabilizing flap 9 is designated by the numeral 52 and the anchoring portion thereof is designated by the numeral 53.

As is best shown in FIG. 3, the anchoring portions 51 and 53 of stabilizing flaps 6 and 9 are disposed in flat face contacting relation with respect to the inner surface of top wall panels 14 and 15 respectively. Similarly the support portions of stabilizing flaps 6 and 9 which are designated by the numerals 50 and 52 are disposed generally alongside the side walls 10 and 11 but at slight angles thereto. Furthermore the slit 40 cooperates with the slit 34 to grip diametrically opposed portions of the flange Fl while the slit 43 cooperates with slit 37 to grip diametrically opposite portions of flange F2.

From the above description it is apparent that by the invention side walls such as 10 and l l are of substantial height and uninterrupted areas are provided for advertising indicia. Similarly top wall panels 14 and 15 may be imprinted if desired and also completely overlie the top portions or caps of the bottles thus affording substantial protection therefor particularly where the caps are provided with pull rings and the like which must be securely covered and protected. Furthermore it is apparent that a strong, attractive carrier is provided for flanged articles which may be constructed with a minimum of material.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A carrier for elongated flanged articles comprising a base panel, a pair of side walls foldably joined respectively to the side edges of said base panel and extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of top wall panels foldably joined respectively to the top edges of said side walls and extending inwardly therefrom, a pair of support panels foldably joined respectively to the inner edges of said top wall panels and extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, a pair of anchoring panels foldably joined respectively to the inner edges of said support panels and disposed in flat face contacting relation with the upper surface of said base panel, at least one flange receiving slit formed at the junction between each of said top wall panels and its associated support panel, at least a pair of stabilizing flaps struck from said base panel in areas thereof adjacent said side walls respectively and each flap being folded upwardly to occupy a position adjacent its associated side wall, said flaps defining article receiving apertures in said base panel, and a flange receiving slit formed in each of said stabilizing flaps and arranged to cooperate with the corresponding slit in the junction between the associated top wall panel and support panel for receiving diametrically opposite edge portions of the flange of an article disposed in the associated aperture.

2. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein each of said stabilizing flaps comprises a support portion disposed alongside the associated side wall and an anchoring portion foldably joined thereto and disposed in close proximity to the bottom surface of the associated top wall panel.

3. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein the inner edges of said anchoring panels are serrated and arranged with the serrations of one anchoring panel being interspersed with the serrations of the other anchoring panel.

4. A carrier according to claim 2 wherein said flange receiving slit formed in each of said stabilizing flaps is disposed at the junction between said support and anchor portions of each of said stabilizing flaps.

5. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein said flange receiving slits formed in said stabilizer flaps are formed from generally U-shaped cuts to define covering tabs disposed in overlying relation with the flange of the associated article. 

1. A carrier for elongated flanged articles comprising a base panel, a pair of side walls foldably joined respectively to the side edges of said base panel and extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of top wall panels foldably joined respectively to the top edges of said side walls and extending inwardly therefrom, a pair of support panels foldably joined respectively to the inner edges of said top wall panels and extending downwardly and inwardly therefrom, a pair of anchoring panels foldably joined respectively to the inner edges of said support panels and disposed in flat face contacting relation with the upper surface of said base panel, at least one flange receiving slit formed at the junction between each of said top wall panels and its associated support panel, at least a pair of stabilizing flaps struck from said base panel in areas thereof adjacent said side walls respectively and each flap being folded upwardly to occupy a position adjacent its associated side wall, said flaps defining article receiving apertures in said base panel, and a flange receiving slit formed in each of said stabilizing flaps and arranged to cooperate with the corresponding slit in the junction between the associated top wall panel and support panel for receiving diametrically opposite edge portions of the flange of an article disposed in the associated aperture.
 2. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein each of said stabilizing flaps comprises a support portion disposed alongside the associated side wall and an anchoring portion foldably joined thereto and disposed in close proximity to the bottom surface of the associated top wall panel.
 3. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein the inner edges of said anchoring panels are serrated and arranged with the serrations of one anchoring panel being interspersed with the serrations of the other anchoring panel.
 4. A carrier according to claim 2 wherein said flange receiving slit formed in each of said stabilizing flaps is disposed at the junction between said support and anchor portions of each of said stabilizing flaps.
 5. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein said flange receiving slits formed in said stabilizer flaps are formed from generally U-shaped cuts to define covering tabs disposed in overlying relation with the flange of the associated article. 